January 07, 2008
Thursday

Ketchikan, Alaska - Grocery industry trade publication Progressive Grocer has announced that IGA's U.S. Retailers are the recipients of the 2008 Outstanding Community Based Independent Retailer Award. According to Jane Olszeski Tortola, the magazine's editor of independent retailing, this award recognizes IGA Retailers' combined work to excel in today's competitive market, their successes as food purveyors, their relationship and approach to service with our customers, and IGA stores' status as great places to work and shop.

According to Bill Tatsuda, owner of Tatsuda's IGA, located in Ketchikan, the award brings with it a continued responsibility to his customers. "We strive to bring our customers the preferred shopping experience in Ketchikan each and every day," Tatsuda said. "We are able to compete with larger stores because we know our customers and our community, and we care about the needs of both. That's the IGA way, and we're proud to be a part of an Alliance of independents retailers who are recognized for quality and caring. We'll continue to meet the needs of our customers and stand up to the responsibility this award brings."

"Independent grocers in the United States continue to be vital players in the supermarket industry today, and some of them are often on the cutting edge food retailing," Olszeski Tortola said. "IGA is living proof that growth, innovation, and retailing excellence thrives within the independents' ranks. Most pointedly, IGA embodies the drive to constantly evolve, the intimate local market knowledge, and the strong shopper connections that define the modern successful independent grocery company."

"This award is a testament to the fact that IGA Retailers across the country are offering their customers convenient shopping with the assurance of quality products, providing a friendly helpful staff, and demonstrating true support for their communities, " IGA USA CEO Mark Batenic said. "On behalf of IGA USA, I'd like to congratulate our entire IGA Family for working together to create an environment where customers are recognized and appreciated."

IGA is the world's largest voluntary supermarket network with aggregate worldwide retail sales of more than $21 billion per year. The Alliance includes nearly 4,000 Hometown Proud Supermarkets worldwide, supported by 36 distribution companies and more than 55 major manufacturers, vendors and suppliers encompassing everything from grocery to equipment items. IGA has operations in 46 of the United States and more than 40 countries, commonwealths and territories on all six inhabited continents.

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